Although the grass at the renovated Johnson ball field at Trenton has not grown as well as hoped, the field is nearly ready to be released for use.

Some fencing work remains to be done when the fencing becomes available. The field is expected to be ready before school starts. School softball players already have been using the infield.

Park Board President, Don Altes, attributed spray used to control weeds as stunting the grass and preventing it from coming up in some areas. He noted additional spot seeding still is needed.

Work to tube a drainage ditch near Mark Griffin Memorial ball field was slowed when a dump truck had mechanical problems.

Park Board President, Don Altes, said there have been a lot of complaints about the women's restroom at the Rock Barn. The Park Board, in February, had talked about renovating the restrooms at the Rock Barn. However, the project was not expected to take place before this fall or winter because of the need to focus on continuing the renovations at Johnson ballfield. In addition, a waterline in the Rock Barn restrooms area needed to be re-routed to prevent it from freezing if the building is not heated enough.

Later during yesterday's Park Board meeting, Park Superintendent Jason Shuler said there has been a very good relationship with the Fair Board in the last couple of years. Shuler indicated the Fair Board is just as interested in the Rock Barn restroom renovations as the Park Board. Shuler also indicated he anticipates the Fair Board would financially help with the restroom renovations.

Shuler said the North Central Missouri Fair went very well. He credited fair personnel with doing a good job of picking up trash and putting up bleachers, stages, and trash cans.

The Park Board voted to spend up to $2,500 to install a water fountain at Ebbe Sports Complex.

A motion to spend up to $1,500 hundred dollars for a concrete slab to store ballfield materials for Johnson and Griffin fields died for a lack of a 2nd. Its expected to be discussed at next month's Park Board meeting after Park Board members view the Ebbe Sports Complex area. Park board members are to look at the site beginning around 6:30 this morning. Intentional locations for the water fountain and concrete slabs are to be discussed.

The Park Board tabled a bid for a backstop at the upper Moberly ballfield until it's determined which of the 2 backstop sizes would work best.

In other news from the Park Board meeting, Member Duane Helmandollar said the Trenton Family Aquatics Center operations have run well this year. He said attendance has been a little low of late. That's attributed to cool temperatures and the tendency for the attendance to drop at this time of year when people have other activities.

The final day to swim this year at the Trenton Family Aquatics Center is August 17th.

There was discussion about 2 restroom stools being broken this week at the Ebbe Sports Complex.

Park Board President, Don Altes, and former Park Board member and President, Marti Williams, are to direct efforts to seek donations for the long proposed tennis court project at Moberly Park. That includes reaching out to school alumni for donations, plus advertising efforts to seek contributions.

In other notes, Park Superintendent Shuler said payments on Trenton Family Aquatics Center are to continue until the year 2029. That's longer than originally planned.

Park Board President Altes said the Lions Club has donated $120 and People‚Äôs Co-op has donated $50 to the park system. Altes thanked them for their support. Altes also noted Kevin Berry of the Trenton fire department thanked the Park Board for use of ballfields for a fundraising softball tournament last month. That's the fundraiser for the North Central Missouri Children's Advocacy Center and Backpack Buddies/Second Harvest Community Food Bank.

The Park Board, last month, voted to move the starting time for its meetings to 5:15 on the 1st Tuesday of the month in an effort for more members to attend. That's 30 minutes later than in the past. Yesterday was the 1st meeting at the new time. The Board did not have a quorum until Kari Whitaker arrived late. Absent were Gary Schuett, Sarah Allen, Robert Shields, and John Dolan.